DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC

A Special Commission is working on the agreement on division of powers between the Federal Authority and the Chechen Republic, which should give the latter a high degree of autonomy. According to the Russian President V.Putin this agreement should guarantee the republic's vigorous development and meet the interests of the Chechen population, besides, the agreement must also grant greater autonomy to the Republic of Chechnya. The prospective agreement must comply with the Russian Constitution and a power-sharing package of bills concerning the federal centre and its regions.

The process of excess troops withdrawal is in full swing. Number of check-points is constantly reducing. The supervision of the antiterrorist operation as it turned to the law-enforcement phase, has been handed over from the Federal Security Service to the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Russia.

The buildup of Chechnya's "force" agencies - the Interior Ministry, justice and prosecution structures is one of the priorities of the Federal Authority. They show constantly improving interaction, and more and more efficient cooperation in investigating criminal cases involving abductions of people and related to banditism and manifestations of terrorism. More than 200 participants in illegal armed formations took advantage of the amnesty.

Chechnya rebuilds its roads, bridges and railroads destroyed in fighting and the floods of summer last year. It is building new ones too. This work is done by Chechen workers, Russian companies, and the engineering units of the Russian forces in the North Caucasus and railway military units.

The Defence Ministry’s engineering units have rebuilt 60 kilometer-long roads, mainly in the mountainous districts. These roads were destroyed by floods. Three engineering battalions consisted of 1,000 troops had been working since February. Railway military force has rebuilt more than 20-kilometer-long railroads and 14 bridges over the rivers of Sunzha, Terek, Argun and Aksai. These troops are also engaged in mine clearing and maintenance of railroads used for military and civil purposes.

Since the withdrawal of excessive troops from Chechnya in March some equipment were handed over to the civil authorities in the republic. Tractors and graders will be distributed under the instructions of Chechen government and the heads of district administrations.

On September 1^st (start of a new academic year in Russia) 455 schools in the republic opened their doors for schoolchildren.

The payment of compensations to residents of Chechnya for lost housing will begin on September 25^th. 3,000 families are on the list of recipients of monetary compensations, he said. The Russian Government has allocated 1 bln rubles (about $50,7 mln AUD) for the purpose.

12,000 forced migrants have returned to Chechnya from neighbouring Ingushetia since this year's start. Another 6,500 Chechens have filed applications for the permission to return, he said. Housing for them is being built in Chechnya. A refugee camp of more than 300 tents has been dismantled in Ingushetia.